Simon leaving American Idol after 9th season

[blue_onyx]

"Simon Cowell, the music impresario and tough-talking “American Idol” judge you love to hate, will leave “American Idol,” the Fox reality competition, after the current season, he said on Monday. Mr. Cowell made the announcement during a Fox presentation at the Television Critics Association press tour in California."

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/simon-cowell-confirms-hes-leaving-american-idol/

He'll be bring his other show The X Factor here starting in 2011.

[KamaAina]

1. "Quite possibly the biggest douchebag in the entire history of television."

:P

[Captain Hilts]

3. In real life, he's actually a very nice guy. My neighbor was on Idol. nt

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. Oh, No, the image is shattered!

What if Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter, and Rush Limbaugh are very nice folks in real life?

It would be the end of the world!

:hi:

[Captain Hilts]

6. He loves playing the heavy. The famous Boyle clip was edited to show him

as being a shit to her before she sang, but the other two were actually worse. But being shits isn't their role. So, without the full clip it's difficult to understand why the other two are so contrite after Boyle sang. Cowell realized it was good for business to take the hit, so their being rude to Boyle was taken out of the clip, especially as it was already too long.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. Compared to Beck or Limbaugh or Coulter?

Simon's a sweetheart compared to those.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. I see no reason to watch without Cowel. I love seeing him crush people's dreams.

[blue_onyx]

8. I doubt American Idol will survive without him

My guess is Fox won't even attempt to continue the show after this season. The X Factor will replace it.

[elocs]

7. I don't see how you could make easier money than being an Idol judge.

I think that Simon Cowell is flat out the most honest American Idol judge and even though many viewers might hate him I think most respect his opinion compared to the others. Yes, like wrasling, Simon may just be playing his role.

[blue_onyx]

9. I trusted Simon less in later seasons

He seemed to be trying to shape public opinion to help further contestants he favored rather than giving honest, helpful criticism.